Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Butterfly Kisses’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Butterfly Kisses’ particularly characterized by flowers which are yellow/green with a white and yellow labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Butterfly Kisses’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Butterfly Kisses’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Butterfly Kisses’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Butterfly Kisses’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2004 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Cassandra’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Brother Stage’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Butterfly Kisses’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2011 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in July, 2012 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Butterfly Kisses’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are yellow/green with a white and yellow         labellum;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Butterfly Kisses’, the female parent ‘Cassandra’ is yellow/orange and with orange/red spots and stripes, the male parent ‘Brother Stage’ is white, whereas the flowers of ‘Butterfly Kisses’ are yellow/green.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Butterfly Kisses’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘253697’. There is more yellow in the labellum of ‘Butterfly Kisses’ and the size at maturity of ‘Butterfly Kisses’ is a little bigger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Butterfly Kisses’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Butterfly Kisses’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Butterfly Kisses’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Butterfly Kisses’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Butterfly Kisses’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Butterfly Kisses’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Butterfly Kisses’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Butterfly Kisses’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Butterfly Kisses’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Butterfly Kisses’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Butterfly Kisses’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Butterfly Kisses’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Cassandra’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Brother Stage’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 3 mm-5             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190B); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 55 cm. Spread: about 40 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Small; green leaves (RHS N137A) and a             relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-6 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6-10 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Alternate, clasping.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval; the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 17 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 7 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green (RHS N137A). Under             side: green (RHS 137B) and brown (RHS 200B).         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: Upper side:             green (RHS N137A) and brown (RHS 200B). Under side: green             (RHS N137B) and brown (RHS 200B). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1-6.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 6-20.         -   Length.—About 20-30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—About 15-20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—Green (RHS 137B) with yellow/green (RHS 144D).         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 18 mm. Diameter (at             midpoint): about 16 mm. Shape: oval with a bump. Color:             yellow/green (RHS 144D and RHS 145A). Orientation: same as             flowers (forward facing).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-6             racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers             can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a             plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom): Height:             about 50 mm. Diameter: about 60 mm. Quantity and             arrangement: three petals and three sepals that are             trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are             more pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2             lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall             shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped. Apex: round. Margin:             entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly ovate. Length:             about 25 mm. Width: about 27 mm. Texture: Upper surface:             smooth and satiny. Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened): Upper side: yellow (RHS 2B) with yellow             (RHS 1C). Under side: yellow (RHS 2B and RHS 1C) with some             yellow/green (RHS 154C). Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed             with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of the             lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of             labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends             forward and is terminated by 2 stubs appendages at the apex.             Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the             midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin:             entire and weakly undulate. Apex of the midlobe and lateral             lobes: oval. Length midlobe: about 17 mm. Width midlobe (not             flattened): about 15 mm. Length lateral lobe: about 15 mm.             Width lateral lobe (not flattened): about 7 mm. Depth of             tube created by lateral lobes of labellum: about 7 mm.             Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened): Midlobe, upper side: upper part is             yellow (RHS 6A) with at the base some orange/red spots (RHS             N34A). The bottom part is white (RHS NN155D). Under side:             white (RHS NN155D) with at the edges some yellow (RHS 6A).             Lateral lobes, upper side: white (RHS NN155D) and             yellow/green (RHS 145D) with some orange/red spots (RHS             N34A). Under side: white (RHS NN155D) and yellow/green (RHS             145D) with some yellow on the edge (RHS 6A). Cirrhi: About             1 mm. Color: white (RHS NN155D). Pestle (Callosities):             Length: about 3 mm. Width (not flattened): about 3 mm.             Color: yellow/green (RHS 145D) with yellow (RHS 6C) with             orange/red stripes/spots (RHS N34A).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one             dorsal and two lateral sepals. Overall shape: elliptical and             weakly cupped. Margin: entire and weakly undulate. Length:             about 24 mm. Width: about 20 mm. Apex: oval. Texture: Upper             and under surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully             opened): Upper side, dorsal: yellow/green (RHS 154C) with             yellow (RHS 2C). Lateral: yellow/green (RHS 154C) with             yellow (RHS 2C) with at the base some white (RHS NN155B)             with some vague orange/red stripes/spots (RHS N34A). Under             side, dorsal: yellow/green (RHS 150C and RHS 151C). Lateral:             yellow/green (RHS 150C and RHS 151C).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 3 cm. Diameter: about 3 mm. Texture:             glabrous and smooth. Color: yellow/green (RHS 150C and RHS             150D) which runs into yellow/green (RHS 144B). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed             or fruit.         -   Column.—Length: about 1 cm. Diameter: about 4 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155B).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two. Diameter: about 2 mm. Color:             yellow/orange (RHS 23A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155B). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Butterfly Kisses’, as illustrated and described herein. 